'Downton Abbey' Finale Draws 5.4 Million

The second season finale of pop culture phenom Downton Abbey averaged 5.4 million viewers on Sunday, PBS’ largest audience since the premiere of Ken Burns’ documentary National Parks in September 2009. Vs. its first season, Downton was up 25%, doubling pubcaster’s primetime average. The growth was most dramatic in young demos, 251% among women 18-34, 145% among women 35-49, 111% among men 18-34 and 84% among men 35-49 vs. the Masterpiece 2010-11 season average.”Downton Abbey has become a cultural phenomenon,” Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton said. “It is so gratifying to see our beloved Masterpiece, after more than 40 years on PBS, attracting a whole new audience.”

24 Comments

Public television showing the big guys how it’s done. You gotta love it.

Lillian Push • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

Pity more people saw the silly Season 2 than the much superior Season 1.

JR • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

Most probably caught up with it online or via Netflix.

Mr. Bates' Glass Bow (Superior) • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

Skyrim for chicks.

b • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

hahaha, glass bow (superior)

Paul • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

Makes you wonder what ratings it would have got if they dared put it on a network…. I know that would never happen..everything as to be made to order.

Ad Free and Happy • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

While I watch and adore the show on PBS as appointment viewing, I would never watch it on a broadcast or cable net that uses advertising. Who has the time to devote to sitting thru 20 minutes of ads for every 40 minutes of content you watch? Not to mention how interrupting the story every 5 min with ads would totally destroy the mojo.

Steve Flavin • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

I became a fan this year. The time and place are very reminiscent
of my all-time favorite PBS series “Upstairs,Downstairs.” I am
looking forward to season three with Shirley McLaine.

greatsho • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

My 30ish son & daughter-in-law absolutely loved the series, as well as their inlaws!!! Season three! Bring it on!!!

tvlady • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

The Brits really know how to make a period drama. It’s brilliant!

Herb Finn • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

The problem remains for PBS is that how many of these 5.4 Million viewers contribute to the local stations?

PBS spends too much time “Begging” for contributions of $35 or more, and offering over-valued gifts, when they SHOULD be focusing on smaller donations of $5,$10,$20,$35 that add up!

Smaller PBS are hurting – smaller markets,ones run by state universities,and so on.

Adam • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

Best thing on TV in years. I’ve got the fever!

The Ponce • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

Great show but they need to give the family members more to do now that the war is over. I find it hard to believe that wealthy Brits sat around eating all the time and getting involved in the sordid affairs of their butlers and maids.

another writer • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

I’ve wondered about the historical accuracy of that too, but it’s believable due to the isolation of living in the country. They don’t seem to have too many local peers or friends, in the way they would if the show were set in London. Also, of course, it underscores the “there but for class” themes of the show.

It would be wonderful if we could have a similar show with American families, but when it was tried, at least according to the stories about Dynasty and Dallas, the audience wanted more soapy plots about the rich families and less of the realistic stuff about their employees. Maybe we accept Downton Abbey (and earlier Upstairs/Downstairs) because rich or poor, it’s all escapism when you set it in England with beautiful costumes.

scifi_fan • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

On a network, it would get…5.5M viewers!

Fans of costume dramas already know to look for costume dramas on PBS. Anyway, ABC may be putting this notion to the test with Gilded Lilys, if it goes to series. Let’s see how that goes before making any unfounded assumptions about a huge unserved market for historical soap operas with people in fancy clothes.

I’d say this is a case of a niche market that can survive just fine on PBS because PBS doesn’t have to pay for the production. ABC won’t have that luxury.

PS, there’s no dishonor in being a niche show. The best shows are niche shows (that’s why everything is so much better on cable). But you still need to make the money work.

monique • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

I hope next season is better than season 2. What a soap opera. Then they throw in a few Oscar Wilde-ish lines for Maggie Smith, just to break up the boredom.

Season 1 was so much more lively with the turk getting f*&%($ to death by a virgin and all that stuff.

Where or where was the debauchery?!

Joseph • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

I think that had the finale of “Downton Abbey” aired on a commercial broadcast network, it would have gotten at least 10 million viewers, maybe 12 million.

If WGBH Boston/PBS’s rights to the show haven’t been extended for Season Three (which is now in production and will be seen in the UK later this year), I can see the big commercial networks gunning for this show.

If PBS does get Season Three, don’t be surprised if it runs with pledge breaks. PBS would be stupid to not run pledge breaks to take advantage of the huge viewership that the next season of “Downton” will attract.

Herb Finn • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

They have the rights – and they have co-funded the series from day 1

Sydney Lim • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

Love love love Downton Abbey! It’s so refreshing to watch a tv show with great characters and story lines!!!! Please don’t take this show off the air!!!!!!

tb • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

one of the best shows on tv!!!!

Jarrett • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

Lets not forget the show airs with ads on ITV in the UK, and the show is produced by Carnival an NBC co.

wntmor • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

What’s gonna happen to Mister Bates?!!! Do we have to wait a year to find out?!!!

Asia • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

I love this series. Can’t wait to see series 3 with Shirley Mcclaine as Coras mom against maggie smith!

Anne Conte • on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 am

I’m curious how come no one ever questioned how Mr. Farouk found Lady Mary’s room, we know that Thomas brought him there but no one questioned it and how did Mrs Bates find out about that incident.